gluten-free

Healthy Baking

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After a discouraging weigh-in this morning, I decided I needed to wage war against my constant, nagging, inescapable desire for sweets …by baking my own healthy alternative!

I use a Paleo Recipe app called FAST PALEO, which has an amazing collection of dairy and non-dairy Paleo recipes that are quick and easy to make. The best part? You can actually search for recipes based on what you have at home to work with for ingredients!

After an exhaustive 13 hour day between two jobs (mind you, that was with leaving the second job three hours early), I didn’t feel like stopping at the grocery store. I knew I had eggs, coconut flour, cocoa powder, and avocado at home – and I’ve heard avocado is GREAT in Paleo baking – so I tested my luck and did an ingredients search.

Voila: 23 different dessert recipes popped up, most using just those ingredients or one or two more. I settled for this one:

DARK FUDGEY PALEO BROWNIES

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I’m normally bad about adhering to recipes, but I stuck to this one pretty closely: only difference was that I had cocoa powder instead of baking chocolate.

I doubled the ingredients list because I wanted to make sure I had extras to freeze:

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I used two 12-count cupcake pans, which needed only 16-18 minutes to cook at 350 degrees.

Because I used cocoa powder and not baker’s chocolate, I’ll admit that my finished product was more cake-like than FUDGEY, but it was overall delicious and the perfect portion size. If I were to make this exact same recipe again, I would ADD A CUP OF UNSWEETENED APPLESAUCE (or mashed ripe banana) to make it a tiny bit sweeter and more moist.

Here’s my finished product:

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I plan to eat them slightly warmed with a little spoonful of coconut ice cream or some mashed raspberries. To the tune of 150 calories, they pack more then I wanted for a snack, but they’re so full of protein (eggs and sunbutter) plus healthy fats (coconut oil and avocado) that the pros outweigh the cons.

The app is totally free, so if you’re a Paleo dieter like me or just looking for some grain-free/gluten-free alternatives, I definitely suggest checking it out!

Bon appetit, my friends!!

– Tori

Quick and Easy Avocado Dip!

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In an effort to keep my eating clean this week, I sliced up a bunch of fresh veggies to take as snacks while at work. Since munching on veggies alone can get a bit boring, I decided to whip up the following dip (totally made up on the fly) to make my meals a little more exciting.

Check this out:

  • Two whole avocados, peeled and cut into cubes.
  • One 5.3 oz container of fat free, plain Greek Yogurt.
  • Two stalks of fresh green onions, minced small.
  • One jalapeno, diced small.
  • Two tbsp of garlic powder.
  • One tbsp of chili powder.
  • One tbsp diced cilantro.
  • The juice of 1/2 a lime.

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I literally blended this in a food processor for less than 30 seconds and, VOILA! A slightly lower fat version of our favorite guacamole! The Greek yogurt adds a protein punch and the chili powder and jalapeno give it a little spice!

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I might try to make a bigger batch of this next time (if you keep the pit inside the Tupperware, it can hold for over a week in the fridge!] and I might spice it up by blending in a little Ranch seasoning!

 

Six Minute Low-Calorie, Low-Carb Pasta!

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After a LOOOOONG day (work and school), I didn’t get home last night until 10pm. I was hungry, cranky, and ready to completely blow my diet on some junk food – just because I knew it would be fast.

Fighting the temptation of scarfing down a few Cadbury Creme Eggs, I decided to throw together a “pasta” dish (you’ll understand the quotation marks in a second) before I succumbed to diet temptation.

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know I’m a huge fan of Miracle Noodles. 

Made of yam flour (non-digestible), they have ZERO CALORIES, ZERO CARBS, and ZERO GUILT. They’re a bit expensive, so I visit my local Asian Market and buy the non-branded version, also known as “Yam Shirataki.”

These noodles, which have the consistency of an al dente rice noodle, pick up the flavor of anything you cook them in. Since they’re pure fiber and don’t digest, you feel VERY full after eating them – which definitely helps with overall calorie consumption. I’ve played around with recipes in the past and decided to just wing it last night and see what I came up with. Surprisingly, I concocted a delicious, simple, low-calorie dish that helped me avoid the chocolate cravings on a Monday night!

Ingredients (approximately FOUR servings):

  • Two 12 oz bags of Shirataki noodles, drained
  • One bag of Steamfresh Garlic Sweet Peas with Mushrooms
  • 1/2 cup of red sauce of your choosing (I happen to love Newman’s Own Roasted Garlic tomato sauce)
  • 2 tbsp of fat free cream cheese
  • 1 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp of fresh basil (or basil paste, as I use)
  • 1 tbsp of dried onions

Super Simple Cooking Instructions:

Empty contents of Shirataki noodles into a colander to drain, then rinse with HOT water for about 30 seconds. I cut them up (the noodles are VERY long) into smaller, easier to manage pieces. Place in a deep sauce pan and cook on HIGH – you need to do this to cook off the excess water and get the desired al dente texture.

While the noodles pan-fry, toss the Steamfresh veggies into the microwave and cook accordingly to package directions. I believe it’s about 5 minutes.

While the peas are cooking, toss your seasonings (garlic powder, basil, onions, etc) into the pan with the noodles and stir vigorously. You should see a lot of excess moisture at the bottom of the pan; the steam is probably intense right about now, so enjoy the facial.

Once the water volume has almost fully cooked off (about 3-4 minutes at the HIGH setting), add your red sauce and cream cheese. It’ll mix with the remaining water, thus fully coating the noodles in a thin, but rich, sauce. Add the Steamfresh veggies to the pan (even if they have a few seconds left in the microwave, you’re fine to pull them out now) and stir into the noodles. The garlic sauce from the vegetables will add to the flavor of the pasta (even more!) and you will notice you don’t need to add any salt to get a lot of flavor out of this dish.

TA-DA!

Seriously, less than six minutes and you have a FULL meal! I didn’t add any protein to it (I’d had a LOT of meat throughout the day), but you can easily add some leftover cooked chicken breast or leftover burger patty to this for a protein punch with no additional cooking time. I almost always have leftover chopped chicken breast in the fridge (I cook about a dozen breasts at a time to guarantee leftovers, actually), so it wouldn’t have been any effort to add some in. At 10pm at night, though, I didn’t want to add any more weight to my dinner than necessary.

This is NOT a Paleo recipe (Paleo would’ve frowned against the cream cheese and peas) but it made my belly happy, was low calorie, and wasn’t the bowl of chocolate I originally was craving when I got home – so I call that a win.

Bon appetit, my friends, and enjoy this simple dinner recipe! 🙂

Tori

Monday Accountability Report

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I had class today (as usual on Mondays), so I couldn’t make it to the gym.

Fortunately, I managed to stick to my high protein, low(er) carb diet throughout the day, staying under 1,400 calories.

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The peas are a higher sugar/starchy vegetable, but they’re my favorite and I managed to NOT eat a cupcake or chocolate of any kind, which is an achievement all on its own.

Hope everyone had a great Monday!

Tori

Current Temptation: Raphsodic Bakery Cupcakes!

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These beautiful cupcakes are my current temptation.

Eighteen vegan, gluten-free, and DELICIOUS cupcakes are sitting in my fridge, begging to be devoured.

If you are vegan and/or following a gluten-free diet and live in the Orlando area, you NEED to check out Raphsodic Bakery on Mills Ave. Located right next to the Colonial/ST RD 50 intersection, this co-op is a haven of delectable treats and kind bakers.

I’ve always been greeted with a smile (and a free sample), and I’ve never made it out of the store without a box of goodies to savor for the week.

I can’t speak highly enough for the quality of their products, their customer service, and the overall warmth of their environment. In fact, when I called in my order last night (I pre-paid for two cupcake boxes after they announced a special on Facebook!), they threw in two free scones (also vegan and gluten-free) as a thank you for my repeat business.

Seriously, how amazing is that?

Regardless of what diet you’re on, Raphsodic Bakery is the place to go in Orlando when you’ve got a sweet tooth. So, what are you waiting for? Go check them out and tell them Victoria Elizabeth sent you! 🙂

Bon appetit, my friends!

Tori

Product Review: Enjoy Life No-Oats “Oatmeal” Cookies

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While I normally try to adopt a Paleo diet (grain free, soy free, dairy free, legume free), it’s hard to maintain when you’re on the run and craving something sweet. Sure, there are incredible recipes out there but most require a food processor, time, grocery shopping, and a non-lazy person to prepare them. And, I hate to say it, between my 50+ hour week job and being a full-time (on campus) grad student, there isn’t a lot of motivation left over to mince, dice, kneed, and whip something sweet just so I can inhale it in 45 seconds.

As a compromise to myself, I normally avoid wheat, soy, and legumes (easiest to spot and avoid, from what I’ve experienced), but allow myself the occasional grain (aka, sorghum, brown rice flour, etc) and dairy in moderation for my sweets cravings. Still, this normally limits my options to Udi’s and Rudi’s brand muffins – which, don’t get me wrong, are TOTALLY delicious – and leaves much to be desired for moist, chewy cookies.

UNTIL NOW.

Browsing Whole Foods with a growling stomach, I stalked through the cookie aisle looking for a package I could rip open and indulge in while I shopped. I planned to just grab the first gluten-free option I saw, acquiesced to the fact that it would likely be dry/crunchy and not really satisfy the craving I had for a warm cookie out of the oven.

That’s when I spotted Enjoy Life’s Soft Baked No-Oats “Oatmeal” Cookies on the shelf.

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I was skeptical (really… “soft baked,” eh?), but I have been an avid connoisseur of the Enjoy Life brand chocolate chips (soy, dairy, and nut free!), so I decided to give them a shot. Plus, they were on clearance for just $2 a box, as the company had just come out with new packaging/logos (seems to happen a lot lately), so I really couldn’t say no.

And boy, am I glad I didn’t.

These things are DELICIOUS. Moist, chewy, and the exact flavor of an oatmeal raising cookie, just like your grandmother used to make. They’re a little small (each cookie is about the size of a half dollar coin), but they pack a ton of flavor.

One serving (2 heaven-nuggets, as I like to call them) consists of 120 calories, 3.5g fat (0 saturated or trans fats), 21g carbs (only 10g is sugar, so not horrible), and 1g protein.

All of the ingredients can be pronounced and the list is short: sorghum flour; brown pure cane sugar; grape, apple, and pear juice concentrates; brown rice flakes; safflower and/or suflower oil; currants; natural rice dextrin; cinnamon; vanilla; xanthum gum; baking soda; rosemary extract.

I’m glad I took a risk on these cookies. Once I tried them in the store, I shoved five more boxes in my cart. I’ve contemplated crumbling them up over coconut ice cream, but as for lately, I just pop 1 or 2 after a meal to satisfy that nagging sweet tooth.

If you’re Celiac, gluten-sensitive, or have a major allergy (soy, dairy, nuts, egg, etc), I strongly suggest checking out the Enjoy Life brand and these cookies in particular. They’re awesome!

So, what are you waiting for? Go get a box (or twelve)!

Bon appetit, my friends!

~ Tori

Almond Flour Waffles: Paleo!

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I woke up this morning with a severe hankering for a soul food breakfast. I wanted waffles. I wanted maple syrup. I wanted doughy, fluffy goodness. I wanted to cheat on my diet with everyone bone in my body and taste bud on my tongue.

I was given a waffle maker nearly seven years ago, which I have probably used twice, maybe three times in my life. Since switching to the Paleo diet in 2012, I’ve never even opened the cabinet in which it has been stored, patiently waiting to be put to its purpose.

Instead of going to iHop or Mimi’s Cafe and completely ruining my diet on this foggy, Sunday morning, I decided to get creative and construct a Paleo alternative that would satisfy the fiercest of cravings.

The following recipe makes three full-sized waffles.

Basic Ingredients List:

  • 1 3/4 cups almond flour.
  • 3 whole eggs.
  • 3/4-1 cup of So Delicious Unsweetened Coconut Milk (I used just a little over 3/4 cup, but you can water it down to a full cup and the texture is the same).
  • 1 1/2 tsp of Baking Powder.
  • 2 tsp of pure vanilla extract.

Mix-In Ideas:

  • 6 tbsp unsweetened coconut flakes.
  • 4 tbsp Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips.
  • 1/4 cup blueberries.
  • 1/4 cup diced banana.
  • 1/4 cup diced pecans, walnuts, or almonds.
  • Get creative! You can stir in just about everything as long as it’s not liquidy. If you do add fruit (such as the blueberries), so with just 3/4 cup of coconut milk in the recipe above.

Instructions:

Spray your waffle-maker with a non-stick spray. If you’re a true Paleo-follower, avoid canola or soy-based sprays, which are the most common on the market. I actually found a coconut oil spray at Whole Foods a few weeks ago, so it’s been my standard for cooking everything lately! You can also just dip a paper towel in cooking oil and rub the waffle-maker if you don’t have any sprays.

While the waffle-maker preheats, combine all ingredients from the waffle-base ingredients list. Stir until well-mixed. It should be a little thicker than normal pancake batter but thinner than a brownie batter. Once fully combined, stir in any mix-in ideas from above. I added coconut flakes and the Enjoy Life chocolate chips – I was going all out! I also added a tbsp of cinnamon, a personal favorite. I think cinnamon accentuates the flavors in chocolate and the homeopathic benefits make it a win-win!

A huge bowl of batter.

A huge bowl of batter.

Once the waffle-maker is warmed up, spoon batter into each of the four compartments. DO NOT OVERFILL. I used about 1/4 cup batter per section, which covered the bottom but did NOT fully hide the metal indentations. The waffles will fluff up, so you need to leave room for them to grow without overflowing the machine. My waffle-maker has preset timers on it, so I didn’t have to pay attention to cook times, but I would say it was roughly two minutes per side.

This sucker is HUUUUGE.

This sucker is HUUUUGE.

I will admit, these waffles pack a substantial caloric punch: for my recipe (with coconut flakes and chocolate chips), each waffle was about 700 calories with roughly 29 grams of carbs, 58 grams of fat, and 26 grams of protein. Fortunately, I found it to be sweet enough without any syrup and it was EXTREMELY filling. I’m STUFFED.

I’m going to try to modify the recipe to bring it down under 600 calories – perhaps a blend of coconut flour and egg whites will help. I’ll have to play around with it! In the meantime, this recipe satisfied every craving and paired perfectly with a hot cup of coffee this morning.

Bon appetit, my friends!

~ Tori

My New Obsession: Rudi’s Original Gluten-Free Bread

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Despite staying under 1,300 calories per day and working out 5-6 days per week, my weight has creeped up a tiny bit this week. I’m back up to 135.8 as of this morning.

I’m not freaking out, though, as there are a lot of factors contributing to it:

  • I’ve doubled up on strength workouts. And we all know that muscle weighs more than fat. Cheeky bastard, that muscle tissue.
  • Don’t want to get into TMI-territory, but I’m at the special time in a lady’s cycle that causes her to eat chocolate, cry unnecessarily, and gain a lot of water weight. And punch people. Yeaaaaah, punch people.
  • I’ve discovered the most delicious “cheat food” in the world: Rudi’s Original Gluten Free Bread!
Can I pull a Lady Gaga and make a dress out of this? I want to just roll around in a massive pile of this bread and eat my way out of it.

Can I pull a Lady Gaga and make a dress out of this? I want to just roll around in a massive pile of this bread and eat my way out of it.

Seriously, this sh*t is crack to me.

Last week, as I perused the aisles of Publix, bored and hungry, I happened to spot a beloved BOGO sale in the frozen section for the bread. Normally, I try to stick with my Paleo-approved coconut bread from Julian’s Bakery, but at $6.99 per loaf and $15 shipping (not to mention a six loaf minimum order!), I haven’t been able to restock lately. Not that I don’t like $12 turkey sandwiches packed into my lunch-pal and all, but for $4.99 for TWO LOAVES of this Rudi’s Original Gluten-Free (plus dairy and soy free!) bread, I decided to try it out (and excuse the fact that it included the forbidden rice flour) this one time.

Best decision ever.

Skeptical as I was, I decided to have my first slice of this bread on Monday night as I ate my leftover pasta (miracle noodle) dish from the weekend. I toasted a single slice (90 calories, 17g carbs) in the toaster over and used it to lap up the remaining tomato sauce.

HOLY CRAP.

This bread has a fluffy, wonderful Wonder-bread (sinful!) texture and the flavor of the ever-fattening picnic staple: POTATO bread. It melts on your tongue with a very buttery flavor – which explains the 90 calories per slice – and I could barely stop myself from wolfing the slice down in three bites.

Rudi’s, you’ve outdone yourself here. This is the BEST gluten-free product I’ve had so far. It perfectly replaces the texture and flavor of even the richest glutinous bread and I feel no depravity using this for a sandwich over any other freshly-baked option out there.

Needless to say, I sent my husband out to buy SIX MORE LOAVES (come on, they’re BOGO – I’m not being obsessive) to stock up my freezer and I’ve been eating 1-2 slices daily this whole week. Considering I’m normally VERY low on my sugars, this could be a contributing factor to my two pound weight gain so far this week.

You know what?

The bread is damn worth it.

Even though the BOGO sale at Publix is over, I did find a $1.00 off coupon for it (you’re welcome!) in case any of my readers now feel compelled to test it out. I promise, you won’t be sorry. DELICIOUS!

Bon appetit, my friends!

~ Tori

Laughing Giraffe Organics

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Since I’m in approaching-birthday-diet-blitz mode right now, I’ve been seeking out healthy, Paleo snacks that I can grab whenever the sweets craving hits. I’m normally pretty good about making them, as I’m constantly posting recipes on here, but sometimes I just need something quick, tasty, and convenient.

Of all places, I happened to stumble upon this brand of Paleo snacks – Laughing Giraffe Organics – while in Marshalls.

A clothing store? Beats me.

I have a habit of roaming the aisles aimlessly when I go to Marshalls and I often find myself lingering in the food aisle, as they have unique spices, interesting sauces, and lots of [surprisingly] healthy snacks. Normally I end up picking up organic agave syrup, Indian spices, and a few bags of sweet potato chips, but this time I came across a bag of Laughing Giraffe Organic “snackaroons” and decided to give them a shot.

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Holy crap.

They are AMAZING.

They are moist, chewy, and satisfying, but not too sweet. They pack a ton of fiber and are vegan, organic, gluten-free, and flour-free. To be honest, I was skeptical when I picked them up, as they sounded too good to be true. Cardboard cookies, anyone?

Boy, was I wrong. They are absolutely delicious and just the right texture – chewy, firm, and almost like an oatmeal cookie with hidden chunks of macadamia nuts and cacao nubs.

They pack a decent amount of calories – about 160 for 1 and a 1/2 snackaroons [who only eats a half of a snackaroon, in the first place?] – but they were incredibly satisfying. While I *wanted* to have more than one, I found that a single snackaroon was satisfying and I could walk away from the bag.

These are a bit costly, ranging between $7-12 a bag in most stores, but definitely a good go-to when you’re in a crunch for a healthy snack and don’t have time to prepare something for yourself. They certainly taste better than any of the Paleo treats I’ve made, but that’s likely because I’m not the best baker.

Whether you’re on a Paleo diet, gluten-free diet, or just trying to avoid processed foods as a whole, I would definitely suggest checking these out next time you’re at Whole Foods. Or Marshalls, in my case. 🙂

Bon appetit, my friends!

~ Tori